A Poem for My Mother

Colors flow across canvas...my Mother is an artist.

Guitar strings hum with music...my Mother is a musician.

The air is filled with song...my Mother is a singer.

The kitchen smells divine..my Mother is a chef.

Heels tap the floor...my Mother is a dancer.

Laughter fills the air...my Mother is full of happiness.

Flowers dance in the breeze...my Mother is a gardener.

Warmth surrounds me....my Mother is a hugger.

Stars across the sky...my Mother is a dreamer.

Tears down a cheek...my Mother is tender

 

Desert sands glow in the sunset...my Mother is an adventurer.

Books across the table...my Mother is a learner.

Ears intently listen...my Mother is a teacher.

Years of songs and lullaby's...my Mother is a Mom.

Happy New Year!

Well, here it is 2011.  As usual, the years fly by faster the older I get.  I see my fitness goals becoming more and more "important" as the years go by.  If I don't do it NOW, it may never happen (goes through my mind often enough), LOL.

I've decided to take some time this first week of January to do some "cleanin' out". 

The serving dishes I bought because I just HAD to have them, but stored away and never used...time to get out!

The dress I bought at the thrift store "just in case" I ever had a reason to wear something like that...time to send it back to the thrift store!  When the time comes, I'll buy one 2 days before the event!

Shoes,..oy.  I garden, I exercise, I grocery shop, I got to church.  I don't need 20 pairs of shoes...well, actually, I don't HAVE 20 pairs of shoes, but I don't need 15 pair either! LOL...

And fabric?  I crave buying new fabric.  I see fabric that I just WANT...but I am determined to craft things out of at least HALF the fabric I already have before I go buying more!  So, hmmm, maybe it's time to get crackin' and open up an Etsy shop...I have a LOT of ideas, I love to make things...we'll see.

You get the picture, right?  I'm going to go room by room and take out a few things, clear up some shelf space, clear up some closet space, clear up some brain space.  It feels good.

THEN, I'll begin on the 40 million projects that I've been threatening to start for the last 12 months...

*paint and "age" my dining table and chairs
*paint and "age" my buffet
*redesign our TV stand
*cover that chair in the living room...ugh!  Cover it already Kathy!!!!
*Do SOMETHING about that coffee table that is too big for your living room!
*refinish the bedroom dresser
*replace the mirror in the bedroom...which means painting 2 new mirrors
*move some curtains around in the house to spice things up and make things look new and fresh
*lighten the colors in the bedroom
*oh...finish that quilt...oh, and that other one I started too...*sigh*

You get the picture here too?  This year I need to do things...really, I don't wanna wait months to do them, I just want to get started now and not quit till it's all done.  Will it happen?  I dunno.  Will I attempt it, sure, for a time at least. :)

Oh, yeah, and I want to run a race.  Guess I'd better start running again, eh? :)

What will you do this January to start the year off fresh?  I'm not asking about resolutions, because I gave those up YEARS ago!  Just things that need to be done, loose ends that need to be snugged up.  What are you January plans?

Happy New Year my friends, but most importantly...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding. 

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight. 

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn away fromevil. 

 It will be healing to your body

And refreshment to your bones." 

Proverbs 3:5-8

I haven't posted since Oct 29th...wow.

Some people are "born bloggers"...apparently I am not.  I have a lot to say, really I do, but it's mostly stuff that only a Mother would love to hear...or a hubby, or a best friend,.... or my dog. :)

But for the sake of throwing something out there in case I don't come back until next year, I thought I'd "blog" today.

Life has been interesting lately.  Some lessons have been learned, sadly they were the kind you always knew about but never really wanted to KNOW about.  BUT, God is good.  He is on His throne, and He's totally in control....I love that.  It makes everything worth while.  He has a plan...that's a good thing.

So, here it is December 9th.  We finally got the best friends all moved into their new house...nice house!  I do not envy them upacking the gazillion boxes...where was all that stuff in their old house????  I have no clue.  I do not envy them moving so close to Christmas, but what a fantastic Christmas gift for the whole family! :) 

We finally got our Christmas lights up, got a tree...a real one... Mmmmm, love that smell, and feel, :).  Hubby usually tries to talk me into getting a fake one, but this year HE suggested we go out and get a tree before I even hinted at "it's tree time".  I love him.  I bet he doesn't really want a fake one....ever. :)

Stormie prefers real trees too...

Someday I'm going to photograph my hubby putting up lights outside.  It's a little scary.  We have a tall palm tree that he decorates oh so pretty.  He has to use our RV as a "platform"...yup the neighbors know when we're putting up lights, lol.  THEN he has to stand on a very tall ladder to complete the connections.  This is when I start to sweat and my heart starts thumping...it's scary.  I don't care how sure footed and strong he is...it's just scary to see him up there.

Usually we have a full house for Christmas dinner, last year there were 14 of us!  This year however, we have dwindled.  My best friends parents won't be here, my in-laws won't be here, and *sigh*...my son won't be here. :( 

He's still in Afghanistan, livin' in a tent.  I sent him some garland and cookies.  I love him.  I miss him.  I can't WAIT till February!!!!!  I get him for a week.  That sure doesn't seem like enough time after 6 months in another country.  Oh why do kids have to grow up and get lives of their own?  I want to fill that week with so much stuff that we are worn out at the end of it!!!

So, we've had so much swirling around in our brains lately that I have not done ANY Christmas shopping (except for Cris' garland).  It doesn't seem to bother me much except I really love giving presents.  So I MUST get something.  I love the way my tree looks with gifts underneath....maybe I'll just wrap boxes.  I do have something for my bestest girlfriend (I got it a while back)...but she's WAY too easy to shop for.  Everytime I go anywhere I see something that I could get her for Christmas....I could fill a moving truck full of things she'd like.  Hubby, however, wants nothing.  He is the most happy and content man I know. 

I've been baking cookies...for the neighbors...I had to taste them of course...they are yummy. :)

The festivities of Christmas certainly feel "different" this year...but the fact is that if Christmas is really about celebrating the birth of Jesus, the "feeling" never changes.  It is always the same, a beautiful reminder and time of reflection on the humble way that our Savior, our Lord, came to this earth.  He came to live a life here, to show us how much he can relate to our pains, our trials and our joys.  Thank You Jesus!!!!  I love You.

Merry Christmas friends!

She is Fall....

Every now and again, I get a little creative with words.  :)  Last year, we took a Fall vacation and the beauty I saw inspired this poem...

She bathes herself in shades of scarlet, ruby and crimson.

She stands tall, wearing them as if she were royalty.

Though she is strong, there is also a sweet gentleness and comfort in her countenance.

She is grand, commanding attention ~ she gets it.

She dances; swirling scarves of rich burnt orange, rust and kumquat.

They twist and turn as she sways to the music that is her own.

She offers them as a gift to the passing breezes,

Then quickly pulls them back again.

She is charming and flirtatious ~ she dances with the wind.

Laughing with the sun as it dances across her,

She shows off her jewels of golden pineapple, lemon and melon.

One by one she drops them.

They spiral and sparkle as they float to the ground.

They are out of her grasp.

Oblivious of her loss ~ she continues to laugh and flirt.

Shades of green are her undergarments.

Cool moss, bright lime and deep forest.

She shows them off, but will hold on to them for a time.

She is secretive ~ full of life and beautiful ~ she is Fall.

 Written by ~ Kathy Charest

I may not be a published poet...but please remember that this poem is my creation, so if you share it, be sure to give me credit!  :)   Thank you.

It's Fall Ya'll!

Oh yes it is! 

I know that the humidity today was disgusting, and the heat was rather...um, well...HOT, but it IS Fall.  I know it because my calendar tells me so. :)


So, I climbed up into the attic and found my box of Fall Decor and (after changing out of my sweltering clothing from being in the attic), I began decorating my home.

I hung my Fall wreath on my door, placed some cute ceramic pumpkins on the doorstep, changed out the silk arrangements around my house from "summer" to "fall" colors.  I go pretty subtle for Fall, just a touch here and there to usher in this season that is so sadly overlooked at times.

Just a few things here and there, to give me the "feeling" that should accompany this time of year.

It's also time for this...

Punkin Bread, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cherry-Berry Swirl Bread, Pumpkin Pancakes, Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Cheesecake bars, or even Pumpkin Soup....oh the endless possibilities!

Oh, and let's not forget all the yummy warm meals that accompany this time of years....IF you live in a cooler state OR have a good A/C... :)

Kathy's Chipotle Chili Chili, Debbies Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chicken N' Dumplin's, Pasta e Fagioli, ....

 

Speaking of baking...have you seen this?

It's missing.  Yup.  I know.  Weird.

I am not a disorganized person.  I don't even have a cluttered home (usually).  Everything has a place and "most" of the time, everything is in it's proper place.  But would you believe I reached for this cookie sheet the other day (I have two, thus the photo is it's twin), and it was gone.  I have NO idea where on earth I would put a cookie sheet.


If you have any insightful suggestions of where I should look, please do share...I have not a clue!


I have looked in the cabinet where I keep all the baking sheets, I have looked in the drawer under the stove, I have looked in all the cabinets that it should not be in, but could have mistakenly ended up in, I have looked on the porch (just sayin')...Any ideas friends?  I am at a loss...

Have a beautiful, Jesus filled day!

Friday Funnies ~ Christmas in July

I promised yummy recipes today, but I must also include a funny...so here ya' go...

Ginger Crinkles

These are delicious, a family favorite, and actually quite healthy

Click HERE to go straight to the recipe

Mammo's Gingerbread

My Grandma always made Gingerbread (her Mom's recipe) when I would visit her.  Gingerbread is so good at anytime, breakfast, snack (with coffee of course) or dinner dessert.

Click HERE photo to go straight to the recipe

Did you ever try the "Minty Mocha" from Starbucks?  If you did, did you fall in love with it?  I did.  But love can be costly, so I decided to make it at home!

I had a gazillion leftover candy canes from decorating my house...so I crushed them in a zippy bag with a hammer...

Until they looked like this...

Then I brewed some of my favorite coffee...while that was happening I whipped some fresh whipping cream with just smidge of sugar...

Add to your coffee some chocolate syrup or some Ghiradelli hot cocoa powder, then stir in some of those crushed candy canes as a sweetener and flavoring....top with PLENTY of that freshly whipped cream...Oh YUM!

Don't forget to give a little bit of whipped cream to the dog.... :)

And here's my Friday Funny...another song...

For more Friday Funnies, please visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart! :)

Christmas in July ~ Day 4 ~ Bling Decor in under 20 minutes

I timed this.  I took me 18 minutes and I TOOK PICTURES along the way! 

Do you know what that means?  It means YOU can do this craft in 10 minutes...right?

Here's what you need:

*Frame with removable backing
(About the frame:  I found this cute one at the Thrift Store.  You can use a plain one and decorate it as I did in Tuesday's post, or you could use one from Wally World and just give it a coat of white paint.  Be creative, use what you've got if possible...cheap is good!)

*Some sticky back bling for frame (I used the little stick on rhinestones used for scrapbooking).
*Iron on bling letters

*Scrap of pretty fabric (enough to cover your frame backing)

*Iron

*Wonder Under (I love this stuff)

*Fabri-Tac, or other fabric glue

Gather your goods...

Take your frame apart.  Get rid of the glass, you won't need it.  This makes packing easier, no need to worry about it breaking in storage.

Cut a piece of pretty fabric about an inch larger (all the way around) than your frame backer.

Cut a piece of Wonder Under just slightly smaller than your frame backer.  Yes, I KNOW, it's for fabric, but it works here too!

Iron it on to the BACK of the backer, according to directions (cotton setting, no steam, 5-10 seconds)...

Peel off paper backing

Center fabric piece over Wonder Under.  Iron in place.

Using your Fabri-Tac glue,glue the fabric edges to the back of the board.

Cut away the loose corner pieces of fabric

Inspect your work and pat yourself on the back

Cut out your letters, whatever you want to say.."Joy" "Peace" "Hope" Merry Christmas"...you might have a BIG frame! :)

Peel off black backing and position them on your fabric covered board.

Cover with a cloth.

Iron on Cotton setting for 15 seconds holding still.  10 seconds moving around.  Finish with a steam blast.  Don't over iron.

Set aside to cool and go to work on blinging your frame...

Put your sticky bling wherever you want it...I am thinking Christmas...candles reflecting...sparkles everywhere...I get a little bling happy, can you tell?

Once you have finished blinging your frame, grab your fabric covered backer; remove the plastic cover pieces.

Set it into the frame and secure it.

How about that?  Wasn't that SUPER easy???  And so pretty too!

Come back tomorrow!

It'll be our last day for Christmas in July Week...and I'll be participating in Friday Funnies...Christmas version! :)

I'm also going to share a few yummy recipes....Mmmmm, Christmas goodies!

Surely you should make them before December so you'll know if they're worth having!

Here is a picture thought for today...Sunset in Key West...

Pop over to Homesteaders Heart to see what Kim's got going on for Christmas in July today...